The team jerseys sport Marathon patches; the same Marathon Petroleum that runs the largest refinery system in the nation; the same Marathon Petroleum that in recent years has been responsible for significant clean air act violations, toxic releases and fires. We were one of 10 cities taking part in the first simultaneous national protest against sportswashing at stadiums from Sacramento to Boston with pro teams sponsored by fossil fuel interests.
Bill McKibben had the following to say, “The greatest threat to sports in the years ahead is the rapid rise in temperature, which increasingly makes it too hot and stormy to play. So, you might say it’s an error for those who enjoy–and profit from–sports to be collaborating with the industry doing the most to overheat the planet.”
This great article covered the national protest and this new campaign to call out sportswashing in professional sports.